For the next hour or more, Charlie helped 'trip' the traps that were set, spaced out in the woods. Monte was true to his word, and led

Charlie in thru a different way, without crossing any fence.

"You stick close to me," he ordered. "You don't know where they're set at. I don't want ya gettin' your toes snapped off."

Charlie wished she could tell Monte to take a flying leap, but she didn't, because if she was honest with herself, she was glad Monte would

be leading her about. She was more than a little fearful of coming upon one of those traps unawares.

John, not pleased that Charlie was along at all, went off in a different direction, though Monte gave him warnings as well, to stay within

a certain area.

John's muttered utterance of 'ya aren't the boss of me' was flung back at Monte.

"Ya do what I say or you'll see 'bout that," Monte threatened.

They went deeper and deeper into the woods, as Charlie tramped along after Monte. She was armed with her own sturdy stick this time.

Monte had a group of them at the space they'd come in at. He'd gathered them, and sharpened the ends, and said he kept them there so

he'd always have them on the ready. When Monte gave her the okay to walk a ways on her own, saying that he'd walked the area

before, and knew just where the traps were, Charlie did, stick in hand. She still picked her way cautiously along, keeping her eyes on her

feet at all times. She had to admit that it felt satisfying to hear the 'clack' of the traps slamming closed. At least, after she got used to it.

She met up with Monte again a bit later, feeling as if she'd managed something grand.

Monte surveyed Charlie was a grin. "You've got burrs in your hair," he said, and reached out to pluck one from her braid.

Charlie shrugged. "Oh well," she said, not bothered. "Teresa will help me get them out later."

"That's what I like 'bout you, Charlie-" Monte said, looking at her with admiration. "You ain't like the other girls. You don't get in a fuss

'bout things."

Charlie looked at him in surprise. "Well, thanks," she said. "I guess."

Monte's face turned red. "I meant it nice," he said.

And then, there was John, bursting up on them. "I seen the Old Codger!" he hissed.

"Where?" Monte demanded, in an equally low hiss of his own.

"Comin' this way," John revealed. "Checkin' his traps!"

"Come on!" Monte said, and grabbed Charlie by her hand. She found herself pulled along to a creek that she hadn't known was nearby. Pulled down the

bank, the three of them hid, laying on their stomachs.

Lying there that way, Charlie could smell the earth. Above them they could hear tramping thru the grass.

There was a string of curses flying thru the air and down the embankment.

"Every damn one of 'em! Every one been tripped," a voice shouted out.

There was another answering holler. "These'uns been set off too!"

The footsteps and trampling noises came closer, until it seemed as though they were right over the top of them.

Another expletive rang out. Charlie had heard plenty of foul words when she'd lived in the city, and ran around with the street kids. She'd even

said a few herself for shock value with Katherine. But the words she was hearing now were ones she hadn't heard before.

Charlie felt her heart pounding as if to bounce out of her chest.

The voices changed, and it seemed they were walking further away.

At first Charlie was relieved, but then she thought they were walking in the direction of where Gurth was tied at. What if they saw him?

"My horse!" Charlie uttered, in a loud whisper. She moved up slightly on her elbows, trying to see, but Monte gave her a push

back down again.

"Be quiet!" he told her.

"My horse!" Charlie said, again. "I've got to get to him!"

"He'll be okay. They won't see him," Monte whispered.

"They might!" Charlie said, feeling near tears.

Monte shook his head, and then they heard the voices going back in the direction they'd first come from. Away from where Gurth was. They laid there

a few more minutes, and then Monte raised himself up to peer over the top of the embankment.

"They're gone," he said, still low, and stood up. "Come on."

John leaped to his feet, and said one of those very vulgar words that Charlie had just overheard.

Monte reached out and slapped the side of John's head. "Stop that talk in front of Charlie!"

"You're gonna be sorry ya did that, son!" John said.

"Yeah, sure I am," Monte said, not sounding concerned. He held out a hand to help Charlie up from the mud. Charlie thought about refusing

his help, but the mud was slippery, and her heart was still pounding with nerves, so she took the outstretched hand. Once on her feet, the three

of them stood in a circle.

"That was a close one," Monte said.

"Let's go," John said, and began walking ahead. "We got 'em all sprung today."

The three of them walked out, and came to Gurth, who'd been eating grass in contentment.

Charlie wanted to talk to Monte. She wanted to ask him questions. But, before she could, Monte suddenly paused, his head tilted.

"They're comin' back," he whispered. "Get on your horse!"

Charlie scrambled into the saddle, and found John thrust up behind her.

"I'll distract 'em," Monte said. "You take off. John knows the way out." And, with that, Monte gave Gurth a smack on his rump, and the

startled horse burst into speed. Charlie could hardly breathe, as John told her which way to go, and she could hear yelling.

Clearly, one of the men was yelling, "See you, you little brats! Wait till I catch ya!"

Charlie aimed Gurth in the direction John directed, and felt the string of caught fish flopping against her leg as they raced thru the

woods. Once at the main road, John told her to stop, but Charlie galloped Gurth on, until they reached the edge of town. Only then did she

pause. John slipped down to the ground, and Charlie did, too, both of them looking in the direction of where Monte should be coming along.

"What if they catch him?" Charlie worried.

"They can't catch Monte," John said. "Nobody can."

Charlie didn't know how much time passed, but it seemed like forever. Finally, Monte came walking out of the trees, and up to where Charlie and John stood,

whistling a raucous tune as he walked.

"Ya'll waitin' on me?" Monte asked, seemingly as carefree as anyone could be.

"Are you okay?" Charlie asked, worriedly.

"Sure, I'm okay."

"He see ya, up close?" John asked.

"Naw. I don't think so."

"Has that ever happened before?" Charlie asked.

"Not that close before," Monte said, with a careless shrug.

Charlie suddenly took Gurth's reins in her hand and began walking briskly. Away. With ease, Monte caught up to her.

"How do you know he didn't see who we were?" Charlie asked.

"He didn't."

"Your hair does show up, you know," Charlie said, with a snap.

"He wasn't close enough to see anything. He's old and fat. So is his buddy he had with him." At that, Monte grinned. "Not like when your Uncle Johnny

was chasing me that time. Up at old Burl's house? After John pelted ya with that rock, and Johnny took out after us? Remember? Now, he sure gave

me a run for my money."

At the mention of Johnny, and calling Johnny her uncle like that-it made Charlie feel happy and uneasy at the same time. Johnny was her uncle. And a

darned good one, too. He was full of fun, and kind-only if he knew where she'd been, he wouldn't be so very kind. He'd be angry. A shiver went

down Charlie's spine.

"I shouldn't have gone against Johnny," Charlie said, almost to herself.

"We didn't cross any fences."

"I know, but-" Charlie hesitated. Johnny had said no fences, but he'd also said that folks didn't want others tramping over their

property, and-if he knew that there were traps involved in the trespassing, well, then...

And Scott. What would Scott say? Or do? Charlie shivered again.

"Ya did a good thing, though," Monte said. "Ya saved animals from gettin' killed, or hurt bad."

There was that. That helped a little.

"And, besides, you gotta admit-" Monte said, with another grin, "Ya were havin' fun-at least for a while."

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When Charlie got near to the ranch, she said a prayer that none of the menfolks would be around to see the state she was in. Even though she'd been

fishing, and that was a messy enough thing, today went beyond that. She had burrs in her hair, and on her clothes, though she'd tried to rid herself of

most of those. She was extremely muddy from her slide down the creek bank, and her overalls had two new tears from the bushes and thorns.

A couple of those thorns had scratched her arm, as well. She wasn't particularly glad to have Maria or Teresa see her, either. But, they'd likely accept

the fact that fishing had brought about her appearance. For the first time, Charlie realized that the stringer of fish that had been hooked to her saddle

was gone. It must have fallen off during the run through the woods. Gahh. How was she going to explain not having any fish to show for the day?

Luck was with her. Maria was preparing to take her leave, to go home to her own family. When Charlie came in the back door after brushing Gurth, and

turning him out into the pastures, Maria was just wrapping her shawl around her shoulders. She took Charlie's appearance in.

"Te ves un desastre," Maria said.

Not sure at all what that meant, Charlie shrugged. "It was messy," she said.

Maria came closer and took in the tears in the overalls. One on her shoulder and one of her hip area.

Maria called out for Teresa, who appeared a moment later, in the kitchen doorway.

"Necesita banarse," Maria said.

"Oh my," Teresa said.

Maria said goodbye, and went on. Charlie sat down in one of the chairs, and began taking off her boots.

"What in heaven's name, Charlie?" Teresa asked, going to fill the big kettle with water and putting it on the stove to heat.

"It was muddy."

"Must have been," Teresa said. "You've torn your overalls, too."

"Thorns," Charlie said. "What was Maria saying about me?"

"That you look a mess and need to bathe."

"It's not a crime to get muddy, is it," Charlie said.

"No, silly. Leave your shoes there, and go on up to the washroom. We'll get your bath ready," Teresa said.

Charlie went up stairs without any further talking, and to the washroom, where she began to peel off her muddy clothing. Sitting there in just

her chemise and drawers, waiting, she saw her reflection in the mirror. She did look a sight. One cheek was smeared with mud, and her hair was

a mass of tangles.

Once the bathtub was filled with steaming water, and Charlie was in, Teresa reappeared.

"Let's soap your hair," Teresa said, and, as she was putting soap onto Charlie's hair, she said, "Your hair's full of burrs."

"I know."

Teresa began to pluck the burrs from Charlie's curls.

It hurt and pulled, but Charlie pressed her lips together to keep from complaining.

"We're going to have a lot of brushing to do," Teresa said, after they'd rinsed the soap from Charlie's hair. "Scrub your fingernails."

When Charlie had scrubbed her skin clean, including her fingernails, she got out of the bathtub, and dried herself. She put on her clean overalls, her

second pair, with a brown blouse.

Feeling hungry, Charlie went down to the kitchen, where Teresa was stirring up a cake.

"Where are the fish you caught?" Teresa asked. "I'll show you how to cook them up while we have some time."

Charlie went to take an apple from the fruit bowl on the table. "I don't have any."

"You didn't catch any?"

"I did. But, they fell off while I was riding," Charlie said.

Teresa laughed, and then, realizing that Charlie was serious, said, dryly, "You must have been doing some hard riding."

"Sort of," Charlie said, vague. She pointed to the pitcher of milk that Teresa had setting out. "Can I have some milk?"

Teresa nodded. While Charlie was pouring her milk, Teresa studied her.

"I'll help you brush out your hair after I get this cake in the oven," Teresa said.

"Okay," Charlie said, sitting down at the table with her glass of milk, and her apple.

"You've got scratches on your arm," Teresa observed.

"They don't hurt. Much."

"We'll put some ointment on them."

"Okay," Charlie said, again. She watched as Teresa poured the cake batter into a pan and set it in the oven. '

"Did you bring your hairbrush down?" Teresa asked.

At the shake of Charlie's head, Teresa sighed. "Well, I'll get mine. I need to change my dress anyway. Cole will be here i a bit."

"Are you going out?"

"Yes. To supper," Teresa said, wiping her hands on her apron.

When Teresa had gone upstairs, Charlie sat there, drinking the milk, and munching on the apple. Thinking about the day.

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